I had lived with back pain from an injury 25 years ago. over the years the problem spread from my lower back to neck, hips and thighs. all those years, doctors could only give me strong PX, physical therapists didn't help at all, one doctor went so far as tell me that I would just have to learn to live with back pain & take Feds every day to avoid daily spasms that were sometimes literally crippling. no one could diagnose the problem beyond telling me my spine was basically sound & so it must be some type soft-tissue damage. The strongest predictors of improvement in back function and symptoms were higher baseline levels of these measures, receipt of an acupuncture treatment, and non-user of narcotic analgesics. They made me feel understood and your attention was very individualized and steady. It can also occur during pregnancy, or because of stress, viral infection or a kidney infection. Systematic review of trials of acupuncture as a treatment for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy. Ensuing release of neurotransmitters serotonin and nor epinephrine onto spinal cord leads to pain transmission being inhibited both pre and postsynaptically in spinothalamic tract. Mean number of days with pain was reduced by half and there was a 30% decrease in work days lost. Other theories suggest acupuncture works by: Speeding the relay of electromagnetic signals. Found that any type of acupuncture was more effective in improving pain than no treatment. It is usually not painful. So it's important to get the diagnosis right. For the rest, back pain may be a chronic disease that prevents the pursuit of a normal life. These might include simple movements to do, yoga asanas to try, or that you see an Alexander teacher, or learn from a dilates instructor. A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture, and usual care for chronic low back pain. Clinical Journal of Pain. 2010; 261pp 60-69 A systematic review based on an on-line search of all articles and other literature in the past 50 years related to acupuncture efficacy in low back pain, including case reports, randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses. Thus, I embrace acupuncture. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag; 1987:1-18. Arch Intern Meg. 2007 Se 24;16717:1892-8. “Patients with low back pain have many options for treatment including medication, chiropractic care, physical therapy and back exercises. Here are some of the syndromes that in Chinese medicine often lead to back pain.

Mean number of days with pain was reduced by half and there was a 30% decrease in work days lost. Herniated discs are a physical problem. Results suggest that suppressive effects of low frequency electro acupuncture on carrageenan-induced paw inflammation are mediated by sympathetic post-ganglionic neurons, while suppressive effects of high frequency electro acupuncture are mediated by the sympatho-adrenal medullary axis. For this study, the reviewers received funding from the National enter for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a part of the National Institutes of Health. Clinical Journal of Pain. 2010; 261pp 60-69 A systematic review based on an on-line search of all articles and other literature in the past 50 years related to acupuncture efficacy in low back pain, including case reports, randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses.